In Steam, right-click the game in your Library and open Properties. Under Installed Files, run the integrity check. Wait for it to finish, then repeat the action that caused your problem. This can help with missing or damaged files, but it does not identify every cause of a crash.
On this page
When to try it
Steam recommends verification for missing textures or other content, and for crashes. Record the symptom first: map, error message and the action that triggers it. That gives you something specific to retest.
If the download has not finished, start with our slow Steam downloads guide. Low frame rates need a separate investigation; see FPS drops.
Run the check
- Restart the computer and launch Steam, as its support guide recommends.
- Find the installed game in your Library.
- Open Properties through the right-click menu or the gear on its Library page.
- Select Installed Files, then the integrity check.
- Let the process finish. There is no fixed duration for every game and drive.
Do not verify multiple games at once. Steam also advises against running it alongside intensive tasks such as disk defragmentation or antivirus scans.
A file failed verification
Steam explains that local configuration files may fail verification because they should not be replaced. This is normal for many games. The message alone does not prove that the installation is broken; test what the game actually does afterwards.
If the original error is gone, repeating the check just to obtain a different report is not a useful diagnostic loop. If it remains, record the result and investigate the next possible cause.
What the result tells you
| Result | What you can conclude |
|---|---|
| Verification finished | Steam completed its comparison for that game |
| The error no longer appears | Your control scenario did not reproduce it |
| The game still crashes | Verification alone was not enough |
| FPS remains low | You need evidence about settings and system load |
A successful report is not proof that drivers, memory or modifications are correct. It answers a narrower question about the installed game files.
Common mistakes
- Opening Steam settings. You need the properties of the specific Library game.
- Assuming a slow check is frozen. Look for progress and remove competing drive activity.
- Changing several settings immediately. Retest the original scenario first so you know what changed.
- Treating a VAC error as a ban. Continue with our VAC verification guide.
What to record next
Keep the game name, exact error, reproduction steps and verification result. For a launch failure, use the startup crash guide; for client messages, see Steam error codes.